 The 30–24 victory sent Alabama to a 7–6 overall record as they avoided a second consecutive losing season.In the week following the Independence Bowl victory, several changes were made to the Alabama coaching staff.Alabama lost their tight ends and special teams coach, Ron Middleton, on January 4, 2008, when he was hired as assistant head coach for Duke and their offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Major Applewhite, on January 16, 2008, when he was hired as running backs coach for Texas.